cultures

Within the twenty second difficulty of Die Zeit, an article concerning the awarding of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), i.e. the Home of the World’s Cultures, a serious literary award of 35,000 euros, was revealed, which revealed that ideology was extra essential than literary high quality when awarding the award. – writes a prae.hu.

The 2 authors – Juliane Liebert and Ronya Othmann – mentioned that within the spring of 2023, they independently grew to become members of the seven-member jury of the Worldwide Literary Prize awarded yearly by Berlin’s Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW – Home of World Cultures). Since 2009, this prestigious prize of 35,000 euros has been awarded to a piece of latest worldwide literature and its first German translation, with the writer receiving 20,000 euros and the translator 15,000 euros.

The organizers have clearly formulated the elements of the analysis, in accordance with which the purposes might be judged in accordance with the standard of the e book.

When evaluating purposes, the writer, editor, writer, translator, their nationality, ethnicity, political and spiritual views will not be excluded and their prejudices are put aside

– was acknowledged within the doc containing the analysis standards.

Nonetheless, in the course of the institution of the shortlist, the scoring went fully astray and changed into a parody. Don Mee Choi DMZ Colony (DMZ Colony) translated by Uljana Wolf and Mohamed Mbougar Sarr Individuals’s most secret reminiscence His work, translated by Holger Fock and Sabine Müller, acquired 5 factors every. Maria Stepanova Ladies With out Garments / Mädchen ohne Kleider (Ladies with out garments), Eva Vieznaviec What are you searching for, wolf? (What are you searching for, wolf?) is Mariette Navarro Über die See (Concerning the sea) 4 factors every, Veronica Gerber Bicecci Leere Menge (approx. Empty crowd) acquired three factors, and 4 different authors acquired two factors every.

Nonetheless, one of many jury members disagreed with the choice. She mentioned she couldn’t dwell with the truth that the books awarded two factors every included three black ladies who had been now excluded, whereas a white French lady was shortlisted.

After that, he withdrew his vote from the Frenchman Navarro, which was adopted by a number of different jury members. At one level it was additionally raised that the issue with Mariette Navarro is that she is a “white French lady”. The jury voted 4 to a few to interchange the shortlist.

Nobody compares to Péter Nádas, however he’s a white man

In accordance with the jury’s choice, Cherie Jones, whose e book was beforehand described by some as “violent porn” and “Netflix-style”, may enter the highest six. However there was additionally a fourth writer with two votes, specifically Péter Nádas, whose e book the jury beforehand categorized as a masterpiece.

The jury instantly obtained right into a debate about which e book must be changed by the French writer, Péter Nádas Horror tales In accordance with many, his e book is undoubtedly the perfect e book, however Nádas is a privileged white writer who’s beloved by information reporters. O. Ronya mentioned that Péter Nádas comes from a Jewish household, spent a number of a long time in socialism, and that his life in all probability can’t be very completely happy now, in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary. Though O. Ronya discovered it disagreeable that she needed to deliver up these details, as a result of it doesn’t matter in terms of the standard of the books, she nonetheless felt compelled to take action.

Nádas is the higher writer, however politically it’s a must to select Cherie Jones. Three jury members instructed Ronya O. earlier than and after that Nádas’s e book is the perfect, nobody can match it, however he’s a really achieved and white man who’s beloved by journalists. In any case, Hungarian is a usually acknowledged language – they believed.

The final jury member couldn’t determine. “Nádas is the higher writer and clearly wrote a greater e book,” he mentioned, however added, “I do know what it is like when Jürgen Kaubé (one of many publishers and editors of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) is nominated on the similar time, after which he at all times wins.” “Effectively, possibly Jürgen Kaube is the higher writer and wrote the higher e book?” Juliane L. could not resist answering this query earlier than the choose jumped up and shouted, “No purpose to get private! As a white lady, you don’t have anything to say right here anyway!” Then she solid her vote for Cherie Jones. The shortlist was full.

Sorry, I like literature, however politics is extra essential

one other jury member instructed Juliane L.

The choice of the winner was additionally scandalous

The 2 jury members additionally reported the issue to HKW, which was resolved by subsequently increasing the shortlist and including two extra to the six works chosen within the first spherical. Sure, however in the course of the choice of the winner, the earlier issues got here up once more, ideology additionally got here to the fore on the expense of professionalism.

Though they selected an writer who deserved the award, the work of the black Senegalese writer was translated by a white particular person, whereas white folks often can not translate black authors. Though the black writer used the n-word to signify the discrimination in opposition to his character, some jurors mentioned the white translators couldn’t reproduce it. Ultimately, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr was the winner, regardless of the “n” phrase and the white translators.

In accordance with the 2 outraged jury members, it’s typically mentioned that if a queer, migrant or in any other case marginalized writer wins, it isn’t because of his works, however to his identification, even when the jury awarded the prizes in accordance with literary standards . This detrimental phenomenon is additional worsened by practices corresponding to these skilled within the HKW jury. Furthermore, it additionally harms these authors, acknowledged Juliane Liebert and Ronya Othmann.

(Cowl picture: Kossuth Prize-winning author Péter Nádas on the terrace of Jelenkor Kiadó’s Budapest workplace on April 4, 2017. Picture: Zoltán Balogh / MTI)

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